No. 08 · Product line

Custom Postcards

Illustrated postcards and card sets for museum shops and scenic areas.

MOQ: From 50 pcs
Sampling: 5–7 days
Mass production: About 15–25 days

Blue souvenir postcard held up against a bright sky

Shenzhen Longtian Cultural & Creative Co., Ltd. is a Shenzhen cultural and creative products company that designs and manufactures postcards for museums, scenic attractions, enterprises and universities. Postcards are an accessible way for visitors to take home artwork, illustration and photography, and boxed sets turn them into a gift that tells a complete story. We handle the design proof, sampling and production, then pack for export.

Crafts and processes

Full-colour offset or digital printing
Special papers and textures
Hot-foil stamping and spot UV
Embossing and die-cut shapes
Boxed and folded postcard sets

Postcards look simple, but finish choices change their character. Offset printing gives consistent colour across larger runs, while digital printing suits short runs and many designs. Paper choice matters: coated stock gives vivid photographs, uncoated or textured papers suit illustration and watercolour, and thicker board feels more like an art print.

Finishing then adds detail. Hot-foil stamping in gold, silver or holographic foil picks out titles or outlines; spot UV adds a glossy layer on selected areas; embossing and debossing add touchable relief; die cutting creates shaped cards or windows. Postcard sets are collated into boxes, sleeves or envelopes, and can include a stamp area, a stamp-trail grid or matching stickers and bookmarks.

Materials

Coated art paper for photography
Uncoated and textured papers for illustration
Thick board and specialty papers for premium cards
Foils: gold, silver, holographic, coloured
Coatings: matte, gloss, soft-touch, spot UV
Set packaging: paper box, sleeve, envelope, band

Choose paper according to the artwork: a photograph needs a coated surface, while an ink painting often looks better on uncoated stock.

Sizes

Standard postcard formats are commonly close to 148 × 100 mm (A6)
Panoramic and square formats are possible
Paper weight is chosen for rigidity in the post
Set box sizes follow the card format and card count

If cards will be mailed, we can advise on keeping the format within common postal limits for your market.

Packaging

Shrink-wrapped packs
Printed paper sleeve
Rigid or folding set box
Kraft envelope sets
Display-ready counter boxes

A set box that explains the theme of the series turns individual cards into a gift.

Customization options

Size, paper weight and finish
Illustration or photography from your archive
Set box, sleeve or envelope
Matching stamps, stickers or bookmarks

Who orders them and why

Museums: collection art cards and exhibition postcard sets.
Attractions: seasonal landscape postcards and stamp-trail cards.
Enterprises: brand greeting cards and holiday sets.
Universities: campus illustration postcards for graduates and visitors.

Design tips

The strongest postcard sets are planned as series rather than single cards. Decide on a theme, such as seasons at a scenic area, highlights from one gallery or details from a single painting, and keep the typography, borders and back layout consistent. A small caption on the back explaining the image adds interpretation and makes the card more meaningful to send.

Artwork preparation matters. Photographs should be supplied at print resolution with enough bleed beyond the trim line; illustrations should be checked in CMYK, because some bright screen colours cannot be reproduced exactly in print. If a particular colour is important, a Pantone spot colour or a proof print can be arranged. Our designers check every file for resolution, bleed and text placement before printing and point out anything that may cause problems.

Think about how cards will be displayed. Spinner racks and counter boxes suit single cards at an accessible price; boxed sets suit the gift tier. If cards are designed to be mailed, keep a clear area for the address and stamp, and choose a paper weight that survives the post. If they are designed as keepsakes or for a stamp trail, a heavier board with a stamping area may be more appropriate.

Finishes are where postcards can stand out. A single foil detail on a title or outline often looks more refined than heavy decoration. Embossing works best on simple shapes, while spot UV works well on glossy highlights such as water or glass. We can make samples of several finish options so you can compare them in hand.

Lastly, plan reprints. Popular cards sell out, and a reprint should match the first run. We keep approved files, paper specifications and finish details on record so that a reorder looks the same as the original set, and so that new designs can be added to an existing series without visible differences in colour or stock.

Ordering workflow: sample → approval → production → QC → shipping

Enquiry and brief. Send artwork or reference images, the quantity, target retail price and delivery date. Our MOQ starts from 50 pcs.
Recommendation and quote. We suggest material, process, size and packaging, and quote per design. Any sample or mold fee is quoted per design.
Digital proof. Our design team prepares a proof showing outline, colours, finish and dimensions. Revisions continue until you approve it.
Physical sample. Sampling usually takes 5–7 days after proof approval. You check the sample by photo, video or courier.
Approval and deposit. Payment is T/T 30% deposit with 70% before shipment; samples can be paid by PayPal.
Mass production. Production usually takes about 15–25 days after sample approval, depending on quantity and process.
Quality control. Goods are checked against the approved sample for colour, finish, attachment hardware and packaging before cartons are sealed.
Shipping. We ship by express, air or sea under EXW, FOB Shenzhen or DDP, quoted per order. An NDA is available on request.